For most bibliophiles, a new year is synonymous to Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF). Every January is awaited, to be a part of the richness that JLF brings. The curtain for the coming edition has been raised, the entire list of over 200 speakers has been released, and the preparations for the festival are in full swing! So while you countdown the days until 19th January, here’s a brief insight into what the bonanza has to offer this time.

The various themes this season include- Translation and World Literature; The Magna Carta; Women and Marginalised Voices; Sanskrit; Freedom to Dream: India @70; the Legacy of the Raj.

Emphasising on the significance of translations, Namita Gokhale, author & co-founder JLF, said at the Curtain Raiser event held at the Taj Mahal Hotel recently-

“We live in times where the cycles of change are puzzling, often disruptive. Books are the answers to these puzzles, literature is the force that links and binds human stories, and contemplates the human situation. In an increasingly parochial and polarised world, literature helps us scale the walls. And translation is the tool that helps us access cultures and knowledge systems.

In the spirit for the love for the written word, literati from across the globe gather under the grandeur of Diggi Palace in Jaipur. The personalities to take part coming January include English director Bruce Robinson, playwright David Hare, the soulful Gulzar, current sensation Mallika Dua, journalist Manu Joseph, historian Roy Foster, singer Swanand Kirkire, and lyricist Prasoon Joshi to name a few.

The latest additions to the list are names like Rishi Kapoor, Stephen Frears, and Vaasanthi.

Stephen Frears is a British film director. His movies include Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity and Philomena. He has twice been nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards for The Grifters and The Queen. His most recent release, Florence Foster Jenkins,starring Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep has been nominated for four Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and is tipped for recognition at the 2017 Academy Awards.

Vaasanthi isa Tamil writer, journalist and columnist. In a career spanning over 40 years, she has published thirty novels, six short story collections, four volumes of journalistic articles and four travelogues in Tamil. Her latest book is Amma: Jayalalithaa’s Journey from Movie Star to Political Queen, a biography of the late firebrand Tamil Nadu chief minister, Jayalalithaa.

Some of the charms of the festival lie in the facts that it is a cashless, egalitarian platform with discrimination of no sorts. However, the Jaipur Literature Festival offers enhanced delegate packages for those who wish to support the festival, experience its magic, mingle with authors, interact with industry players, relax in the Festival Delegate lounge and enjoy the live music concerts and festival fringe events.

A celebration of not only books but cultures altogether, five days of this festival are a treat to be a part of. Not to mention the backdrop of a traditionally rich Jaipur.